The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has extended an offer to assist in retraining Filipino workers who may be affected by President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s recent directive to ban Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). PEZA emphasized that none of the ecozones under its jurisdiction currently host POGO operators.
In a statement, PEZA expressed its willingness to contribute to the retraining and job placement efforts for displaced workers within its IT-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPM) sector. This proactive approach aims to mitigate the potential economic impact on individuals who may lose their jobs due to the POGO ban.
As of now, the number of licensed POGOs and associated companies under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has dwindled to 97. PAGCOR data reveals that a significant number of licenses, totaling 275, have been revoked. This includes 69 licenses under the previous licensing framework, 15 under the current one, and one for remote play poker.
Among the remaining valid licenses, 38 are for internet gaming, seven for provisional internet gaming, one for remote play slot machines, seven for authorized service providers, 12 for support services, three for local gaming agents, 14 for special class BPOs, seven for testing laboratories, two for probity checkers, and five for training providers.
